Hospital gets funds for upgrades

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THE State and Federal governments will spend $80 million replacing Lismore Base Hospital's ageing emergency department with a new 28-bed facility.

The new emergency department, announced at the hospital this morning by Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner, will add an extra 12 beds to the existing department and addresses the most critical issue on the list of fixes in the hospital's Stage Three upgrade.

The Federal Government is contributing $60 million from the latest $475 million of the Health and Hospitals Fund while the NSW Government will contribute $20 million.

The Commonwealth funds are expected to be formally announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan next week when he hands down the Federal budget.

Lismore MP Thomas George and Page MP Janelle Saffin, who have both campaigned hard on the Stage Three upgrade alongside The Northern Star and the community group Our Health, led by Marshall Fittler, were both excited at the announcement.

"I am so excited to get this cash injection into Stage Three of Lismore Base , as a project we have talked about for years can now start to become a reality," Ms Saffin said.

"This investment will be planned in such a way so as to also prepare the campus for further redevelopment in the future, as funds become available," Mr George said.